Is Knowledge a Curse?

"In an article titled “The Curse of Knowledge”, it’s noted that as a person learns more about a subject, it becomes increasingly more difficult to discuss that subject with someone who doesn’t posses that knowledge. It simply becomes harder and harder to empathise with them.

This means that the more educated and passionate you are about a subject, the harder you will find it to discuss or teach it to others.

This effect is one of the cited possibilities for why teaching is so difficult a career, since it means that eventually teachers will become more and more disillusioned with the endless wave of perceived stupidity they’re forced to endure."

All of the above is from the article I read online, not my words.
What do you think? Is knowledge a curse?

Closing Statement from W T

One may conclude that knowledge, in and of itself, is not a curse. Knowledge is essential in order to function in society, and in order to help others.

Knowledge though, is just the beginning.......there are other things worth seeking beyond knowledge...........

Among those other things worth seeking are............ understanding.......... discernment............and perhaps, if we are fortunate enough, we might obtain...........wisdom.

How we handle the knowledge we have is strictly up to us.

The world is filled with passionate individuals who hold a wealth of knowledge, and who also possess understanding of that knowledge. Wisely they seek to share their knowledge with others, whenever, and wherever they can.

The example of Nan Hauser which is discussed in this conversation is a fine example for all of us. There are many other examples worldwide.

May we all continue to see knowledge as a blessing and use it wisely to better ourselves and others.

Oct 26 2013:
Is knowledge a curse? As Uncle Ben once said: "With great power comes great responsibility." Knowledge gives us responsibilities. You know fast food is toxic for you, what are you going to do about it? Gold mines are intoxicating rivers, what is your course of action? Some might consider it a curse, because they do not know what to do with that knowledge. We are cursed with the knowledge of not doing anything. But that is, of course, regarding knowledge that most would prefer to pass unseen.

Now, regarding what the article is talking about, I have to quote Einstein here: "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough." When I encounter people that don't know as much as I do on a subject, I see it as an opportunity. I love explaining new things to people. Yet, I believe teaching is a difficult career because year after year you have to explain the same subject; it is as if your classroom, regardless of five years in math, don't understand that one subject. I'd get tired as well. But in ordinary day to day conversation? I try to meet them where they're at and start from there.

Oct 26 2013:
Thank you for your thoughts Chantal.
If I had a nickel........

Sometimes I think the "E" in TED could very well stand for Einstein. LOL
Your view of knowledge in is harmony with what a lot of contributors have stated.

As an educator, I too become bored with teaching the same material year after year....I have gotten around it by changing grade levels, and changing schools, and moving to different places to teach.

Growing in knowledge, at the same time you impart knowledge to others is a good thing.

Have you seen the Nan Hauser story. She is a marine biologist. I think you will find her use of knowledge to be quite interesting. I think you will enjoy watching the documentary Lejan linked.....here it is. Enjoy!!

Oct 27 2013:
I like what you have said when quoting Einstein " If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough". I on certain subjects know it well enough to explain. While me the way i ask questions and explain it, i tend to put in in ways people don't understand it even though i put it in the most simply way i can. i try not to ask questions because when i do it boggles the teachers how i ask questions. sometimes when i ask things the way other students may ask things, i feel as though i'm asking it wrong and when i ask it my way nobody understands. I try to express myself and show people through doing things rather then explaining it in words. It's better that way for them, but harder for me. Is it better to teach a person visually or through another way? Help me please.

Oct 27 2013:
Hi Cinthia. :) I actually know how you feel. I'd often ask questions that were quite unusual during class; what I realized is that I wasn't searching for explanations per se, but for an expansion on that knowledge. I realize you said you try to express your way by doing things because it is easier for THEM, but not for you. It is hard for people to understand you if you have a hard time understanding yourself. If you don't feel comfortable by doing things, then simply go by word, comparison or representation. When people don't understand me I try to use metaphors, analogies or simplify my question and then follow it up with more questions until I get to the level I want.

Oct 28 2013:
Hello Cinthia, thank you for your thoughts on this subject.

May I add some further thoughts?

Some people learn in a good way when you show visual help.......some learn just when you talk to them......others need to see you doing what you are trying to show them.

I think it depends what you are trying to show and teach.

It sounds like you have a gift for teaching others. As you get older and attain more knowledge of how we humans learn, perhaps you will no longer have trouble being able to impart your knowledge to others.

Oct 27 2013:
@Mary M: Thank you for the link, Mary. I didn't even know another species of whales existed! I liked how Nan approached the issue midrange sonars with the NAVY. She used reason over passion, something we sometimes tend to oversee.

By the way, I also agree that one of the best ways of learning is through sharing knowledge.

Oct 28 2013:
That was a nice video wasn't it? I'm glad you enjoyed it.
She seems like a well balanced person with a natural ability to make others comfortable around her.

I have a quote for you regarding the sharing of knowledge.....

"If you have a dollar, and I have a dollar.
And I give you my dollar, and you give me yours,
we will still each have only a dollar.

But, if I have an idea that works,
and you have an idea that works,
and I share my idea with you,
and you share your idea with me.
Then, we will each have two ideas that work"

Life is beautiful when we spend it sharing ideas that work with others.
And we all have ideas that work, this knowledge is worth sharing......freely.......for the betterment of mankind. That is why having an open mind to other's ideas is so important.

Thank you Chantal for contributing to this conversation. :)
I'm Mary, nice to meet you!!

Oct 20 2013:
Oooh William.....yes, knowledge is a curse in the sense that once you know something, you have a certain responsibility that might come with it.

It's like being around the office when they install the new copying machine.....and YOU were the only one trained to use it.......curses!!! Each time someone has trouble with it, they come looking for you.
You may choose to fix the problem, or you may choose to share your knowledge of the machine with others and share the wealth (of knowledge).

I have friends that have never learned how to operate a camera, just because they hate being asked to take pictures........some people enjoy blissful ignorance.........less responsibility.

Others love knowledge.........but they do not like to share it.
And still others delight in sharing the information they have with others who are in need of obtaining it.
Thanks William for joining the conversation.

Oct 20 2013:
even more poignantly, the German word weltschmerz refers to the depression that follows realizing one's own sheltered existence is s far cry from the poverty, misery and suffering that afflicts the majority of the people in the world.

Oct 28 2013:
I have submitted a list of quotes from various contributors to this debate.
I hope that reading through it might give you an idea of the many insights that were brought out regarding knowledge.

I have written the name of the contributors next to the quotes. That way you can go and find them and read some more if you would like.

Oct 28 2013:
“Those who are cursed should not blame knowledge ... egos are most likely the cause.” Robert Winner

“Knowledge is not a curse for the wise” Pabitra Mukhopadhyay

“Regardless of how much content knowledge a person has, pedagogical content knowledge is vital” Fritzie

“Without modesty the knowledge will turn into a real Curse for Man” Riadh Boukratem

“As you educate yourself (grow in knowledge), you exile yourself from these circle-soothing societies one by one. It is a no win situation. How else to react to that than anger or depression?” Krisztian Pinter

"Knowledge is knowing Tomato is a fruit, wisdom is not using it on a fruit salad." Gunjan Ghimire

“If someone has an arrogant character, no matter how much knowledge he has, he always thinks he's right and others are stupid.” Yoka Feng

“Knowledge becomes stale once it is known.” Manish Khatri

“Knowledge is evolving so if one stops learning at certain point thinking s/he knows it all , in some other point s/he will find herself / himself an ignorant .” Salim Solaiman

“Do you think there may also be a link between the considerable accumulation of knowledge and mental agility in some people with high-functioning autism/Asperger's syndrome - the 'curse' being related to their inability to impart that knowledge on others without labeling them as 'stupid”. Allan Macdougall

"We should lower our intellect to the level of the child, not our emotions" Adriaan Braam

“Anyone who is genuinely passionate about what he knows tries by all means to share it with others in order to bring them to his level of knowledge. This is how great leaders have transformed the world.”
Bongani Sibeko

"What makes people more vulnerable of being cursed are highly talented people who never struggled a lot with learning...they may be knowledgeable and smart, yet they often have difficulties to imagine that not all people have their brains." (paraphrased) Lejan

Oct 26 2013:
In your first passage you stated that from "the curse of knowledge" it states it is harder to teach a subject you know so much about to a person who knows so little, correct? I am only 16 but yet out of my whole family i find it hard to discuss any of my interest based on any and all animals (almost all). i would one day love to be a marine biologist, but how can i do so if i can't discuss with someone the true meaning and importance of marine life if no one seems to pay mind when i say a sentence on the subject at hand. i find it hard for people in school to say something so ignorant about animals especially when finding myself in biology class last year. people would tend to say "wow that whale is a fish". while in fact whales are big mammals not fishes at all. I try not to discuss on any subject people don't know much about even if it is out of that subject. people are going to be ignorant and even though you know what is factual and based off real experience, people won't take what another person says into consideration because they just say "that's a lie, and are trying to show off". I don't feel that having knowledge is a curse but indeed a gift and such of importance, for the reason that when something that may or may not be a chaos people that have the knowledge of anything, from something so small as how to tie a knot to how to save a dolphin will always be a gift of life, and can one day come down to just that. Hope you see this has helped. Feel free to ask questions

Oct 23 2013:
I never would call knowledge a curse, but I agree that the more you know the more difficult it becomes to communicate that to others.
Knowledge is something that drives humanity. Our curiosity for gathering more and more knowledge brought us to where we are today (good and bad).
One could knowledge consider a curse maybe in the sense that the more you know the more you figure how little you know. In addition, with increasing knowledge one also becomes increasingly isolated because there will be fewer and fewer people to share this knowledge with.
So, some people actually might consider ignorance is bliss.

And I will have to respectfully disagree with you when you say "with increasing knowledge one also becomes increasingly isolated because there will be fewer and fewer people to share this knowledge with".

Perhaps if you had stuck a "may become" and there "may be fewer and fewer" I could agree.

But it is really up to the individual to choose isolation or loftiness.

I think if you watch the Nan Hauser story you will realize what I mean.

Thanks for stopping by and sharing your knowledge of this topic with us.

Oct 23 2013:
Hi Mary, no I didn't watch the video but I will and you are right, it should be "may become increasingly isolated", although fact is that not everybody is driven to attain knowledge, so inevitably, the gap between somebody seeking knowledge and those not interested in it will be ever larger.

Oct 24 2013:
I agree Mary, today it's easier to access knowledge, however, not everybody is interested.
For example, I'm very interested in everything related to sustainability, however, most people I talk show little interest in deeper conversations about this topic, although they might agree that it is an important topic.
Another example, among other things I'm also a sommelier, meaning wine is one of my passions. Although many people like to drink a glass of wine, few actually care about how wine is made, different grape types, the influence of soil and climate on grape quality, etc.
I could give you many more examples but I assume you get the general idea.

Oct 22 2013:
Knowledge is beautiful, liberating and fulfilling. Yes, the more you know the less people you can *easily* share that knowledge with others. But that only happens if you forget your roots. For example, I continue using the very same street slang I grew up with, even when explaining the science I work within.

Oct 21 2013:
Upon reading about some of the 'favourite teachers' mentioned below I felt compelled to add one of my own. While in second year studies it came time for me to take a statistics course. However, when I mentioned this to my friends and colleagues many lamented how much they disliked the subject or what a terrible experience it was for them. These responses surprised me since I knew it would be about numbers and I liked numbers. Numbers make far more sense than most people ever do and numbers never lie or attempt to deceive themselves or others. So I chose to have a good experience.

Unfortunately, such as not the case the first time around. I am sure the guy knew his stuff but I was already confused after the first week and went to him numerous times for help. But by the end of the month I dropped the course.

However, the next semester offered a second stats class and I again signed up. This guy was what I was looking for. I was still confused in the beginning but when I went to him for clarity he had an infinite ways of explaining the same thing. While the first guy kept reiterating the same points but with different words, the second guy would offer different ways of perceiving the same idea until one clicked. And that was why I was grinning ear to ear at the end of that statistics course, the one that had no grade below an a-.

Both knew statistics. But the second was far more competent at disseminating that knowledge to a wider audience.

Another interesting note about the two teachers. The first looked and carried himself as a member of the pale, indoor, intelligent and informed community populating most universities. The second had the rugged outdoors look of a rancher or farmer complete with cowboy boots and big shiny belt buckle and might even have been a bit bowlegged :).

Oct 21 2013:
You know, I have been fortunate enough throughout my life to meet very talented individuals, who also happen to be teachers. They have an innate talent to share the knowledge they have accumulated.

How kind of you to come back and share your personal experience with all of us.

Thank you William.........if you get the opportunity, I highly recommend watching the vimeo video that Lejan linked below on Nan Hauser.

Oct 19 2013:
As far as explaining things to others, Einstein said that 'if you can't explain it in simple terms, you don't understand it'; or something like that, I think.
Another question is how are you going to handle that knowldge - what are you going to DO with it? (Are you optimistic or pessimistic?) Are you going to just sit there and build a worldview that veers ever-more to the unrealistic in your mind, or will you test it in the real world & develop realistic buttresses with other minds & bodies?
And yes, Mike is right that many times people do not want to hear the actual truth! (And I'm beginning to wonder about how to connect better, so "the message" is secondary.)

I also agree that HOW we use knowledge is a very important piece. Some folks would like to put themselves on a pedestal with their presumed knowledge, and if they cannot adequately share the information, what good is the knowledge? It is important to have the knowledge, AND be able to share the information in several different communication "styles", otherwise the message is lost to the audience.

Oct 22 2013:
Seems that a lot of folks would like to be on a pedestal of any variety - and there are false pedestals to choose from as well.
Yes, different communication styles, learning styles & thinking/feeling types are important too; maybe secondarily to being able to see if someone is more concerned with another impending matter than the one at hand.
I've had recent deep thought on the matter - this "how" is how I've been holding myself back. "How" points very much to me & my fears, and my decisions about me & my fears, pains and distrusts.

Oct 22 2013:
Ah, "...I'm beginning to wonder about how to connect better, so 'the message' is secondary."
You drudge that old thing up... I was hoping it'd get glossed-over by readers, as it concerns personal philosophies of a tender nature; questioning old assumptions & relearning life; "relationships-first."
I think I spoke of it in one of my very first posts: "I am enough."
This "gnowledge" has been one of my personal shields; as evidenced by the crutch of reading only non-fiction.

Oct 22 2013:
Ah.... yes Steve C, there are many varieties of pedestals.....you are right about that my friend:>) The problem with the pedestal, is that one who puts him/herself there, is isolated from other people, and therefor whatever knowledge s/he has, may feel like a curse because it is difficult to share information from way up there!

Why do you think/feel that the "how" is holding you back? I find that if we are asking ourselves a question like "how", we are seeking information and moving forward. Yes, it sometimes reveals fears, and in my humble perception, that is how we learn and grow...."relearning life", as you insightfully say.

We can feel...."I am enough" in this moment, while also knowing that there is more to learn....make any sense? To do that of course, we need to be off the pedestal......down on the ground rooting under every stone yet uncovered:>)

Oct 23 2013:
Edited for size & reply
If we're asking how, we're seeking, but if life asks us "how," we may say "IDK," and give-up.
"How" holds me back because I never learned self-esteem well; Mignon McLaughlin said, "Learning too soon our limitations, we never learn our powers." I never learned to apply myself to anything difficult, (e.g. social); it was too easy to say 'I can't.' It's a vicious cycle to back away from fears & lose faith in one's worth. So I tried to learn facts, & grow theories of mind & matter in place of heart & soul.
"We can feel....'I am enough' in this moment, while also knowing that there is more to learn...." That makes great sense. "I am enough," is golden; "more to learn," (if wisdom), is bonus. But "more facts," is just tinsel.
Facts are a "crutch" when one still feels empty inside. I wonder now if some fiction may be a way for an author's dreams to explore possibilities of bravery, human worth and the hard stuff.
"down on the ground rooting..." I'd agree, but I had a thought recently, as I have thought much of the subconscious mind, I now wonder if our true motives & volitional powers lie in our hopes & dreams.

RE: Risk seems to be an almost-magical act.

I grew up curious about science - but I had to defend inside.
Fear of the unknown seems like a fear of being forgotten, of things left unsaid or not-done.

"Be kind to yourself" is a hard-sell; seems too cliche. "I shouldn't have to reassure myself.

An upward "cycle" - I imagined it as linear, but cyclical may be better.

Emptiness, is close at hand to ponder, but no, I don't feel empty inside; talking, (talking's different than acting); it has a certain safe logic to it.

I suppose I shouldn't expect anything but a long-road for a soul in an infinitely-layered universe. It does seem that everything is connected, but maybe some connections still have to be built, realized, (or merely "claimed or "exclaimed," as I imagine someone brave & strong do).

Oct 26 2013:
I agree Steve C, that sometimes not knowing how to explore something causes some folks to give up. Personally, I love exploring, because in each moment, there is an opportunity to learn and grow. So the curiosity stimulates the pursuit of information, which contributes to knowledge, which in my humble perception, is a joyful process:>)

I also agree with you that it takes a certain amount of courage (or self esteem as you say), to take the risk of going beyond what we think we know at any given time. It is risky on our part to delve into something that may be unknown to us. You are very insightful to realize there may be a cycle involved...backing away from fears, losing faith in one's worth, ability and strength....which causes us to back away even more.....on and on....

Once we start delving, however, and learn that it is not so terrible, we may discover that it is really a gift to ourselves......a gift that can strengthen our courage and self esteem. That is another cycle my friend....learn more, which strengthens our courage and self esteem, which causes more stimulation and curiosity to delve more.....you see?

Be kind to yourself, because your exploration into "non-fiction book knowledge" does not have to be "in place of heart & soul". In my perception, everything is interconnected, so we can integrate everything we learn to form theories of mind & matter, heart & soul".

I am curious....do you feel "empty inside" with this conversation? Because you are sharing some wisdom, knowledge, self esteem, courage with sharing your personal story, trust, and insight. Wherever that information came from doesn't really matter.....you are "applying" it very well my friend:>)

Wherever our "motives & volitional powers" lie, may be unique to the individual, don't you think?

When I remind myself and others to "be kind to yourself", it is more than an empty phrase. We are often taught to be kind and respectful to others, and it's important to extend that kindness, understanding, compassion and respect to our "self" when we need it.

You say you "shouldn't have to reassure" yourself. There was a time when I believed that too my friend....I shouldn't have to reassure myself. I finally discovered that it was/is ok to reassure myself, and why should others give me the gift of reassurance if I'm not willing to give it to my "self"? Can we genuinely give something away that we do not have in and for ourselves? I don't think so.

I agree with you that "some connections still have to be built, realized, (or merely "claimed or "exclaimed," as I imagine someone brave & strong do)."

I believe we were/are connecting, building, realizing, claiming and exclaiming right here and now my friend.....thank you very much for this conversation...I appreciate you giving me more information, which may lead to more knowledge:>)

Oct 16 2013:
I do not agree that knowledge is a curse Mary M. I agree with Lejan...any teacher who perceives students as stupid would do us all a favor to seek another profession. Labeling students a "wave of perceived stupidity" seems like the teacher is telling us more about him/herself than about the students.

In my perception and experience, those who have knowledge, also usually have the ability to recognize different communication styles, and if they so desire, can change their explanation to fit the level of understanding of those they are communicating with.

From the teachers I know, I learn that teaching is more challenging these days because they spend so much time with discipline, trying to keep the class organized, and paperwork which is required before they can actually begin to teach!

Oct 21 2013:
in addition to what have been said already, let me introduce my "mailman theory".

observe mailmen, as they leave the post office in the morning. they depart as a group, and they immediately split up, some goes to the left, some to the right. then they split up further, some goes to the bicycle racks, some to the bus station, etc. and so on, as they go on their way, they split into smaller and smaller groups, and finally they arrive to their district alone.

this happens with understanding too. the better you understand the world, the smaller the group of people sharing your views. and as you advance, it is inevitable for the group to eventually split. only if you stop, and all the others stop as well, you can keep the group together.

in that sense, knowledge has an antisocial element. and i think this is one of the reasons behind anti-intellectual sentiments.

But, there is a difference between "understanding the world", and having in depth knowledge of a subject area............You cannot obtain a PHD in "understanding the world", but you may certainly obtain a PHD in marine biology and spend 30 years on a Pacific Island observing humpback whales and becoming a renown expert on these sea creatures.

The question is, what will you do with that knowledge?

How will you communicate with others?

Will you look down on humanity for NOT having your knowledge?
Or will you humbly share your passion and knowledge with those who seek to understand your field?

You want an example? Here........this is an example of knowledge being a blessing and not a curse:

Oct 21 2013:
yeah, my post addresses only a subset of learning, namely those that supposed to change your life. knowledge about quantum mechanics just excludes quantum mechanics from the topics you like to discuss, but does not exclude you from your social circles. not that big of a loss.

i'm not necessarily talking about "looking down". in my experience, as the knowledge difference grows between two persons, first there is discussion, then there is teaching, then after some threshold it becomes either a desperate but hopeless undertaking or a simply lie. or of course it can be simply abandoned.

as an example, after i finally (years of trying and failing) acquired a rough approximate understanding of the general theory of relativity, i can not anymore wholeheartedly support any popular approaches to it. the only honest approach left is to simply say: sorry, but this concept is not available, not even in a grossly oversimplified form, without high level mathematics. everything else is dishonest, and you should not listen.

Oct 21 2013:
"in my experience, as the knowledge difference grows between two persons, first there is discussion, then there is teaching, then after some threshold it becomes either a desperate but hopeless undertaking or a simply lie. or of course it can be simply abandoned."

Yes, I see your point.

I have often struggled with individuals who, despite my best efforts, are unable to understand the information I am trying to share with them.

Sometimes, we just do not know why they are unable to understand.

Call it entrenched inclinations.....memes....hard headedness.....hopeless morons.....or just plain lack of cognitive abilities, I do understand your point. I really do.

So knowledge then is a curse at times, isn't it? Especially when we are at our wits end trying to make others understand us, and seeing that our attempts are futile, I'm I correct?

I really appreciate you coming back and attempting to help me understand.

And, because of you, I was able to link the Nan Hauser interview.......and because of that, Lejan linked his Vimeo video.........and due to that, now I am elated, it is some video, I hope you watch it!!...........So, thank you Krisztian, thank you!!

Oct 21 2013:
You talk about branching, thats ok, yet there is no antisocial element in knowledge itself. The fact that it's been misused is what makes it 'anti' in social interaction, the way people act upon it too.

The problem also occurs when one of your postman claims to be the only one who arrived at the true and only valid destination and mail receiver of them all. As 'the world', whatever than means, can be understood in many and equally valid ways.

This is why it is so important, that acceptable social behavior and their nurturing conditions get decided by the majority of the people who form a given community, and not by just a view who claim to have found the only 'branch of wisdom' and attempt to rule them all.

The only anti-intellectual sentiment I noticed so far is within religion vs science and against the so called 'leftist' body of thought in capitalist based economies. Both of them are artificially triggered and sustained by a ruling authority to maintain their position of power.

Any other resentments are less generalized and mainly caused by 'intellectuals' who didn't manage to get their point across in simple and understandable terms.

Oct 21 2013:
This is a reply to your comment below.....about Celia Cruz.

I think that Celia Cruz is very unique Lejan. No other Cuban entertainer that I know of has had the love for people that she displays. If you click on Juliette's links.....one of them shows Celia singing, and the camera continually goes to an older gentleman with watery eyes. That my friend was her husband. They were inseparable. He was quiet, also an entertainer, but quiet. Their love for each other was exemplary. That in itself was a great testimony to anyone who knew her.

If you click on my first link below, you will see her intoxicating appeal.......she loved what she did. But the knowledge she had of music was never lorded over the audience. Her knowledge was not a curse......

Hope you enjoyed your weekend.....I'm in the middle of studying for a midterm exam.....coming online relaxes me a bit.....

Oct 21 2013:
Either way we take it Mary, Bob Marley got it right in saying:

No woman, no cry.

But I know what you mean and the husbands testimony tells me more than that of hundred other people, in a way, because there could be other reasons for him to cry which may not all be sweet by their nature.

It also didn't surprise me, that her husband was quiet by his temper, as it seems to be almost a necessity for highly extroverted individuals to have this form of counter-balance. I don't know if this is a matter of accessible 'stage space' or the attractiveness of the 'opposite', yet to me 'inseparability' is a very positive sign for a healthy and working relationship.

Oct 21 2013:
Those guns have been pointed at me at kindergarten, so I am used to them since ... :o)

The German word Weltschmerz has become an anachronism today in my view, as it is not used anymore within the current German language and, if at all, only used within the context of romantic literature or philosophy from times long passed.

It goes very well with elegiac reflections and melancholic moments, yet is of temporary character only. Its most favorable season is autumn, or better was, and it is inseparably linked with an romantic view on the world.

I think any German still gets it in their 'hello planet - welcome kit', yet the pace of modern times does not allow to practice it in young years very often.

I personally substituted the word Weltschmerz by the following phrase:

Optimism is a lack of information

Which does not allow this reflection to be of just temporary nature and keeps pace with modern times without any problems and time delay. It works in all four seasons as well as under zero 'gravity' conditions (though I didn't like the movie). :o)

The phrase on its own states, that 'knowledge is a curse' although this sort of knowledge is restricted to 'information' only, whereas the destruction of 'optimism' kills off any romantic aspect in it right away.

I am certainly not happy about this necessary changes and adjustments, but Weltschmerz just doesn't fit anymore in this modern Zeitgeist.

Oooops......let me clarify.......by 60 minutes I do not mean that the video is 60 minutes long.
The show itself is CALLED "60 MINUTES". It is a news program that airs on Sunday nights in America, and it lasts for 60 minutes. The whale piece was just one of the stories last night.

Oct 21 2013:
By the way, I once was very close to apply for a job opening at Sea Sheppard. The only reason which kept me doing this, was, that all their ships are strictly 'non smoking' areas, even at deck. :o)

Oct 21 2013:
I hereby declare to accept responsibility for any low score on your test and leave any good ones to you alone. I think thats a fair deal, isn't it? ;o)

As for the 'Understatement of the Year Award' I like to encourage anyone to remember, that this form of devotion, of personal calling and passion, often comes at a high price which does not become visible in documentations.

I also tend not to super-elevate individuals, regardless of their talents, yet I do appreciate to learn from them in their field of excellence.

Her credo, 'Why learn it, if you don't share it' is simply beautiful and I can only hope she is aware that much of her success is related to her very character. If not realized and wisely taken care of, her achievements may not sustain beyond her lifespan.

Following those 'Footprints on the water', even though they haven't been set intentionally deep, can be a very difficult task for her followers. But because how the documentary ended, it seems she is already passing on her wonderful legacy ... :o)

Oct 24 2013:
Wise or just another fox grape - it depends on ones point of view I guess.

Prising students and to focus a bit more on their talents than on their weaknesses is not super-elevating, on the contrary. It creates a positive and encouraging stratosphere for them to unfold and explore their abilities and to widen them.

Yet super-elevation would be destructive, as it spoils more than it would support.

Oct 20 2013:
Knowledge can be a curse, but only for as long as we are unable to integrate it.

Such "integration" requires that we grow in consciousness so that we can reconcile (at a higher level) the increased duality which knowledge brings.

Or if you prefer in a different language, that we reconcile the "good and evil" experienced from eating of that fruit. This 'fruit' enables the potential of an upgrade in wisdom, but it has to become actually realized as a higher level of wisdom, otherwise it is likely to be realized as rampant evil on an ever-increasing global scale.

The huge explosion in knowledge in recent years, particularly through technology as an amplifier of the human mind, increasingly makes vital the need to grow in consciousness (ie: grow psychologically and spiritually). Such growth in consciousness is currently lagging behind, and we are unable to handle the huge increase in knowledge (currently potential for "good and evil") by integrating it as higher wisdom.